2016 Caring Award Winners

Awardee Profile

Emily Lites

Young Adult Caring Award Winner

Roanoke, Texas, United States

Year: 2016

Age: 17

I have a passion for helping others, and I want to prove that people can make a difference in the world.

Emily Lites

Emily spreads smiles by delivering small boxes of toys, gifts, and games to young hospital patients and their siblings. She knows how sad they are because she, too, was sad when her baby brother suffered a stroke while in the womb. After his birth, her family spent a lot of time at the hospital where she started Emily's Smile Boxes to provide other kids with activities and fun. Since then, she has raised more than $100,000, passed out 11,000 boxes, and inspired other kids to hold box-building events nationwide. Emily says she intends to keep going until every child stuck in a hospital has a box in their hands and a smile on their face. "I have a passion for helping others, and I want to prove that people can make a difference in the world."